BJP and AGP to work together in Assam

New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday announced an alliance with the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) for the Lok Sabha elections in Assam.

"In the Lok Sabha elections, BJP would be the major partner, but in the assembly elections in the state the AGP would be the senior partner," BJP president Rajnath Singh said.

Of the 14 Lok Sabha seats in Assam, the AGP would contest six seats and the BJP eight, including Guwahati.

BJP's prime ministerial candidate L K Advani said, the AGP had been borne of a "nationalist movement and had gained experience in governance as well".

"This party has come together with the NDA and I welcome it," he said, expressing the hope that the alliance would help the NDA not just in Assam but also in the 24 seats in the "northeastern sector".

AGP president Chandra Mohan Patowari said, the alliance would signal the "pathetic end" of the Congress.

Patowari blamed Congress for neglecting the problems of Assam, which he said had become the "transit point" for jehadis and extremists.

Assam goes to the polls in two phases on April 16 and 23. Though the BJP has announced an understanding, assembly polls are not due yet.